I’ve been playing through the single-player campaign and delved into the multiplayer using the PDP gear. When I got it in my hands, I was surprised that it was smaller than the stock Xbox 360 controller. The size took some getting used to, but for the most part, it was comfortable. The Battlefield 4 controller for Xbox 360 feels sturdy with a solid build quality. Touches like the glowing logo at the center and the zinc alloy triggers make the controller feel like it’s more expensive than its $49.99 price suggests.

The multifunction wheel is a godsend.

At the basic level, it’s comparable to the stock Xbox 360 controller. It’s reliable and it got me through the campaign just fine. Where the game gives players an edge is in the multifunction wheels in the back of the controller. Players can tilt these wheels up, down and press them in. Fiddling with these unconventional buttons lets players switch gadgets or lie prone or jump. It lets players access these functions without taking their thumbs off the analog sticks, an important advantage in a firefight.

Players can switch to rockets while fending off tanks or they can swap out for the repair tool to fix a vehicle in the middle of a firefight. That split second where players don’t have to mess with the D-pad (that’s never been the best part of the Xbox 360 controller anyway) is the difference between staying alive and keeping a field upgrade and dying and losing it.

Players can even program the multifunction wheel if the presets aren’t to their liking. It’s fairly simple, and best of all, the device works on PC so if you want to use it on a gaming rig, it’s possible though mouse and keyboard is still the way to go for competitive play.

With that said, consumers need to keep in mind that because of the smaller size not all the accessories for the stock Xbox 360 controller will work on this one. In addition, the rumble didn’t work for me when it came to PC. But despite the flaws, it is a solid controller that will likely give Xbox 360 players an edge online.